To obtain a nonwoven fabric having a high engaging force for a male material when used as a female material of a mechanical tape by using an air-through nonwoven fabric, causing slight fuzzing by carrying out an embossing treatment and excellent in productivity, and to provide an absorbent article excellent in mounting properties using the nonwoven fabric.

This nonwoven fabric is obtained by carrying out an embossing treatment of a raw nonwoven fabric and has an elongation percentage of ≤75% based on that of the raw nonwoven fabric under 2 N/25 mm load in the CD direction. Furthermore, the absorbent article comprises mechanical tape fastening devices comprising a female material and a male material in which the female material is composed of the nonwoven fabric, a right side sheet and a back side sheet and an absorbent. Fastening tapes for securing are arranged on both left and right edges of the back side part. The fastening tapes are formed of the male material of the mechanical tapes and engaging parts for engaging the fastening tapes are formed of the nonwoven fabric.